Senior Mediation Adviser, Multiple positions

Background Information - Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio
Based in New York, the UNOPS Development and Special Initiatives Portfolio supports diverse partners with their peacebuilding, humanitarian and development operations. The portfolio manages the operational support to the Standby Team of Senior Mediation Advisers (SBT) mechanism, along with the provision of project management and implementation services. 

Informations générales - Groupe de Développement UNOPS
Basé à New York, le portefeuille développement et d’initiatives spéciales de l’UNOPS (UNOPS Development Group) soutient divers partenaires dans la réalisation de leurs opérations de consolidation de la paix, humanitaires et de développement. La division Groupe de Développement gère le soutien opérationnel l’équipe de réserve de conseillers seniors en médiation, ainsi que la fourniture de services de gestion et de mise en œuvre des projets.

Background Information - Job-specific
Established in 2008, the SBT mechanism is a service of the Department of Political and Peacebuilding Affairs (DPPA) situated in the Mediation Support Unit (MSU) of the Policy and Mediation Division (PMD). It is a specialized resource that can be rapidly deployed into the field on a temporary basis to provide technical advice to UN officials and other key stakeholders engaged in conflict prevention or mediation efforts. The services of the SBT mechanism are available to United Nations envoys, political and peacekeeping missions and country teams, as well as to regional organizations and partners with whom the United Nations works closely in conflict mediation and good offices world-wide.

Further information on MSU and the SBT mechanism is available on the Peacemaker website. Full-time members of the SBT mechanism must be permanently available for deployment on short notice and are not allowed to undertake any outside employment while serving on the SBT. The opportunity to serve on a When-Actually-Employed / Part-time contract in support of the Standby Team mechanism is also available to candidates recommended following the interview process.

If selected, full-time members of the SBT mechanism should know that the mediation expertise of the SBT is revised on a yearly basis. As such, any full-time contract may be terminated after a single SBT term (ca. 12 months) should the expertise provided not be required and / or if the project is not renewed. 

Informations générales - Equipe de réserve de conseillers seniors en médiation
Créée en 2008, l’équipe de réserve de conseillers seniors en médiation (mécanisme SBT) est un service du Département des affaires politiques et de la consolidation de la paix (DPPA) administré par le l’Unité d’appui à la médiation (MSU) de la Division des politiques et de la médiation.  C’est une ressource spécialisée qui peut être déployé rapidement sur le terrain à titre provisoire pour donner des conseils techniques aux missions de prévention des conflits et de médiation menée par les représentants et envoyés des Nations Unies, missions politiques spéciales, opérations de maintien de la paix, équipes de pays, et d’autres intervenants clés tels que les organisations régionales et sous-régionales partenaires. Pour plus d’informations sur le mécanisme SBT, veuillez consulter le site web « Peacemaker ». Les membres de l’équipe de réserve engagés à pleine temps doivent être disponibles en permanence pour des déploiements à courts préavis et ne sont pas autorisés à entreprendre un emploi extérieur pendant leur service au sein de l’équipe.

Les membres de l’équipe de réserve engagés à pleine temps doivent être disponibles en permanence pour des déploiements à courts préavis. L’occasion de servir au moyen d'un contrat à temps partiel/ d’un contrat cadre en appui à l'équipe de réserve est également disponible pour les candidats recommandés à la suite du processus d'entrevue.

S'ils sont sélectionnés, les membres à temps plein du mécanisme SBT doivent savoir que l'expertise de médiation du SBT est révisée sur une base annuelle. Ainsi, tout contrat à temps plein peut être résilié après un seul mandat SBT (environ 12 mois) si l'expertise fournie n'est plus requise et / ou le projet n'est pas renouvelé.

1. Design and Conduct of Mediation, Facilitation and Dialogue Processes;
2. Security Arrangements (emphasis on ceasefires);
3. Constitution-making;
4. Power-sharing;
5. Gender and Inclusion;
6. Climate Change, Environment and Natural Resources;
7. Transitional Justice and Reconciliation.

• Provide technical expertise and advice on the conduct and design of inclusive mediation, facilitation and dialogue processes to clients of the MSU and UNOPS, as well as to conflict parties or other key stakeholders as appropriate;
• Provide process expertise for the design, planning and management of pre-negotiation, negotiation and implementation frameworks at all levels, including national dialogue processes, subnational and local mediation efforts, and post-agreement follow-up mechanisms. This expertise should include methods and mechanisms for promoting women’s meaningful participation at all phases and levels and modalities for multi-track engagement with youth, civil society, and other Track II actors;
• As necessary and appropriate, participate in the mediation, facilitation and dialogue process, and contribute to the drafting of the relevant sections of peace agreements;
• As necessary, conceive, plan and manage capacity-building seminars for the mediation team, parties or other key stakeholders on inclusive and multi-track mediation, facilitation and dialogue;
• Prepare periodic reports and relevant thematic briefings for the mediation team;
• Prepare update reports, as requested;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

• Provide, via telephone, online engagements, and written materials, technical expertise and advice on inclusive mediation, facilitation and dialogue to mediation teams in the field, as well as to the parties or other key stakeholders as appropriate;
• Research and coordinate lessons learned reviews of best practices in the area of expertise;
• Research thematic and comparative briefings to support ongoing or planned mediation efforts;
• Produce operational guidance notes and related training materials in the area of expertise;
• Prepare and plan training sessions on area of expertise for United Nations staff;
• Prepare reports on field deployments;
• Contribute to MSU’s network of experts in the area of expertise;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

• Provide technical expertise and advice on inclusive security arrangements, particularly on ceasefire and cessation of hostilities issues, as well as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration matters and/or security sector reform to clients of the MSU and UNOPS as well as to conflict parties or other key stakeholders, as appropriate;
• Provide process expertise for the design, planning and management of pre-negotiation, negotiation and implementation frameworks on security arrangements issues, including post-agreement follow-up mechanisms. This expertise should include methods and mechanisms for promoting women’s meaningful participation at all phases and levels and modalities for multi-track engagement with youth, civil society, and other Track II actors;
• As necessary and appropriate, participate in the security-related discussions of the mediation, facilitation and dialogue process, including addressing violations against women in criminal prosecutions, truth commissions, and reparations programmes, addressing conflict-related sexual violence, and contribute to the drafting of the relevant sections of peace agreements;
• As necessary, conceive, plan and manage capacity-building seminars for the mediation team, parties or other key stakeholders on security arrangements;
• Prepare periodic reports and relevant thematic briefings for the mediation team;
• Prepare update reports, as requested;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

• Provide, via telephone, online engagements, and written materials, technical expertise and advice on inclusive security arrangements to the mediation team in the field, parties or other key stakeholders as appropriate;
• Research and coordinate lessons learned reviews of best practices on security arrangements issues;
• Research thematic and comparative briefings to support ongoing or planned mediation efforts;
• Produce operational guidance notes and related training materials on security arrangements issues;
• Prepare and plan training sessions on area of expertise for United Nations staff;
• Prepare reports on field deployments;
• Contribute to MSU’s network of experts in the area of expertise;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

• Provide technical expertise and advice on inclusive constitution making, constitution drafting and consultation processes to clients of the MSU and UNOPS, as well as to conflict parties or other key stakeholders as appropriate;
• Provide process expertise for the design, planning and management of pre-negotiation, negotiation and implementation frameworks on constitutional issues, including constitution-drafting exercises, national dialogue processes and post-agreement follow-up mechanisms. This expertise should include methods and mechanisms for promoting women’s meaningful participation at all phases and levels and modalities for multi-track engagement with youth, civil society, and other Track II actors;
• As necessary and appropriate, participate in the mediation talks on constitutional and transitional institutional arrangements, and contribute to the drafting of the relevant sections of peace agreements, including language prohibiting gender discrimination, securing women’s representation and protection, preventing civil and customary law to discriminate, and requiring institutions to advance women’s rights;
• As necessary, conceive, plan and manage capacity-building seminars for the mediation team, parties or other key stakeholders on constitutional and transitional institutional arrangements;
• Prepare periodic reports and relevant thematic briefings the mediation team or other teams involved in constitutions-related efforts;
• Prepare update reports, as requested;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

• Provide, via telephone, online engagements, and written materials, technical expertise and advice on constitution making, constitution drafting and consultation processes to mediation teams in the field, the parties or other key stakeholders as appropriate;
• Research and coordinate lessons learned reviews of best practices in the area of expertise;
• Research thematic and comparative briefings to support ongoing or planned mediation efforts;
• Produce operational guidance notes and related training materials related to constitutions;
• Prepare and plan training sessions on area of expertise for United Nations staff;
• Prepare reports on field deployments;
• Contribute to MSU’s network of experts in the area of expertise;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

• Provide technical expertise and advice on power-sharing, regional autonomy, and federalism arrangements to clients of the MSU and UNOPS, as well as to conflict parties or other key stakeholders as appropriate;
• Provide process expertise for the design, planning and management of pre-negotiation, negotiation and implementation frameworks, including national dialogue processes and post-agreement follow-up mechanisms. This expertise should include methods and mechanisms for promoting women’s meaningful participation at all phases and levels and modalities for multi-track engagement with youth, civil society, and other Track II actors;
• As necessary and appropriate, participate in the mediation talks on power-sharing issues, and contribute to the drafting of the relevant sections of peace agreements, including supporting special temporary and other measures to ensure women’s representation in politics;
• As necessary, conceive, plan and manage capacity-building seminars for the mediation team, parties or other key stakeholders on power-sharing issues;
• Prepare periodic reports and relevant thematic briefings for the mediation team;
• Prepare update reports, as requested;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

• Provide, via telephone, online engagements and written materials, technical expertise and advice on power-sharing, including regional autonomy and federalism arrangements, to mediation teams in the field, as well as to the parties or other key stakeholders as appropriate;
• Research and coordinate lessons learned reviews of best practices on power-sharing;
• Research thematic and comparative briefings to support ongoing or planned mediation efforts;
• Produce operational guidance notes and related training materials on power-sharing;
• Prepare and plan training sessions on area of expertise for United Nations staff;
• Prepare reports on field deployments;
• Contribute to MSU’s network of experts in the area of expertise;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

• Provide technical expertise and advice on gender, Women, Peace & Security, and inclusion issues to clients of the MSU and UNOPS, as well as to conflict parties or other key stakeholders as appropriate;
• Provide process expertise for the design, planning and management of inclusive pre-negotiation, negotiation and implementation frameworks, including national dialogue processes and post-agreement follow-up mechanisms. This expertise should include methods and mechanisms for promoting women’s meaningful participation at all phases and levels and modalities for multi-track engagement with youth, civil society, and other Track II actors;
• As appropriate, include methods and mechanisms for promoting meaningful participation of youth at all phases and levels of peace processes;
• As necessary and appropriate, participate in the mediation, facilitation and dialogue process, and contribute to discussions of gender and youth dimensions in the drafting of substantive aspects of peace agreements;
• As necessary, conceive, plan and manage capacity-building seminars for the mediation team, parties or other key stakeholders on gender, Women, Peace & Security issues;
• Prepare periodic reports and relevant thematic briefings for the team mediation team;
• Prepare update reports, as requested;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

• Provide, via telephone, online engagements, and written materials, technical expertise and advice on gender, Women, Peace & Security, and inclusion to the mediation teams in the field, the parties or other key stakeholders as appropriate;
• Research and coordinate lessons learned reviews of best practices in the area of expertise;
• Research thematic and comparative briefings to support ongoing or planned mediation efforts; 
• Produce operational guidance notes and related training materials in the area of expertise;
• Prepare and plan training sessions on area of expertise for United Nations staff;
• Prepare reports on field deployments;
• Build, manage, and contribute to MSU’s network of experts in the area of expertise;
• Ensure that all activities and written products are gender mainstreamed and youth-sensitive;
• Any other tasks requested by the MSU and UNOPS.

Candidates with no United Nations or UNOPS experience are strongly encouraged to apply.

Education

• Advanced university degree. A BA or first level degree with two additional years of experience is accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree. A technical degree or military degree with four additional years of experience is accepted in lieu of an advanced university degree.

• A minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in fields related to promoting peace and conflict resolution - mediation, facilitation, dialogue (design) issues, academia (research and/or teaching), and/or related fields. 

• Significant and prolonged field experience in conflict, post-conflict or other transitional situations. 
• A significant part of the ten years of professional experience overall should be in one or more of the thematic areas.
• Direct experience in mediation, negotiations, facilitation, and dialogue situations, and/or experience in mediation advice to chief mediators, senior envoys, and/or conflict parties is an asset.
• Experience in delivering mediation capacity-building or training activities is an asset.
• Significant experience in engaging with civil society in peace processes is an asset.

Les candidatures féminines sont fortement encouragées à appliquer.

Formation

• Diplôme universitaire. Un baccalauréat ou un diplôme de premier niveau avec deux années d'expérience supplémentaires est accepté au lieu d'un diplôme universitaire supérieur. Un diplôme technique ou un diplôme militaire avec quatre années d'expérience supplémentaires est accepté au lieu d'un diplôme universitaire supérieur.

• Au moins 10 années d’expérience professionnelle, à des niveaux de responsabilité de plus en plus élevés, dans des domaines liés à la promotion de la paix et de la résolution des conflits, de la médiation, de la facilitation et du dialogue, et de la planification de ces processus, et/ou dans la recherche et l’enseignement universitaire.  

• Une importante expérience de terrain en situation de conflit, de sortie de conflit ou de transition. Une expérience directe des activités de médiation, négociation, facilitation et/ou de dialogue est un atout.
• Une partie importante des 10 années d’expérience professionnelle doit être dans une ou plusieurs des domaines thématiques.
• Expérience directe dans la fourniture de conseils en matière de médiation aux médiateurs principaux, envoyés seniors, et / ou les parties au conflit est un atout.
• Expérience significative dans l'exécution des activités de renforcement des capacités de médiation ou de formation est un atout.
• Expérience significative d'engagement avec la société civile dans les processus de paix est un atout.

Compétences linguistiques

• Une connaissance pratique de l’anglais écrit et parlé est requise. Le dossier de candidature doit être présenté en anglais. La lettre de motivation peut être présentée en français avec une traduction en anglais. Une connaissance pratique d'au moins une autre langue officielle de l'ONU est hautement désirable, en particulier l'arabe et le français. 

• Security Arrangements: Strong analytical capacity, substantive knowledge and direct field experience in security arrangements in peace processes or other transitional contexts, particularly on ceasefire and cessation of hostilities issues, as well as disarmament, demobilization and reintegration matters and/or security sector reform; 
• Constitutions: Strong analytical capacity and substantive knowledge of constitutional issues in peace processes or other transitional contexts;
• Power-sharing: Strong analytical capacity and substantive knowledge of power-sharing, regional autonomy, and federalism arrangements in peace processes or other transitional contexts;
• Gender and Inclusion: Strong analytical capacity and substantive knowledge of gender, Women, Peace & Security, and broader inclusion issues in conflict and post-conflict settings, including knowledge of Youth, Peace & Security;
• Transitional Justice and Reconciliation: Strong analytical capacity and substantive knowledge of human rights, international legal frameworks, and context-sensitive and victim-centered approaches to transitional justice in peace processes or other transitional contexts; 
• Climate Change, Environment and Natural Resources: Strong analytical capacity and substantive knowledge of the effects of climate change, specifically on conflict dynamics and natural resources (including on land, water, minerals, timber, oil, etc.) management, wealth-sharing, as well as natural-resource and climate change related mediation initiatives at the local, national and interstate levels.  

• Dispositifs de sécurité: Grande capacité d’analyse, connaissance approfondie et expérience pratique considérable dans le domaine des dispositifs de sécurité, notamment en ce qui concerne les cessez-le-feu, mais aussi le désarmement, la démobilisation, la réintégration et la réforme du secteur de la sécurité, dans les processus de paix et d’autres situations de transition;
• Questions constitutionnelles: Grande capacité d’analyse et connaissances approfondies des questions constitutionnelles dans des processus de paix ou d’autres situations transitionnelles;
• Partage du pouvoir: Capacité d’analyse avérée et connaissances de fond du partage du pouvoir, de l’autonomie régionale et des arrangements relatifs au fédéralisme dans des processus de paix ou d’autres situations transitionnelles;
• Genre et inclusivité: Grande capacité d’analyse et connaissances approfondies sur les questions de genre, sur l’agenda « Femmes, paix et la sécurité », et sur les questions d’inclusion plus largement dans des situations de conflit et post-conflit y compris une connaissance de la thématique Jeunes,  paix et sécurité ;
• Justice transitionnelle et réconciliation: Forte capacité d’analyse et connaissances approfondies des droits de l’homme, des cadres juridiques internationaux et des approches contextuelles et centrées sur les victimes de la justice transitionnelle dans les processus de paix ou d’autres contextes de transition;
• Changement climatique, environnement et ressources naturelles: Grande capacité d'analyse et connaissances approfondies sur les effets du changement climatique, en particulier sur la dynamique des conflits et la gestion des ressources naturelles (y compris la terre, l'eau, les minéraux, le bois, le pétrole, etc.) et le partage des richesses, ainsi que les initiatives de médiation liées aux ressources naturelles et le changement climatique aux niveaux local, national et interétatique.

Functional Competencies

Compétences fonctionnelles

Contract type, level and duration

Contract type: International ICA
Contract level: IICA-4/ICS-12
Contract duration: Open-ended subject to organizational requirements, availability of funds and/or satisfactory performance*

*Even though the duration indicated in this vacancy announcement is “open-ended” depending on the business needs, consideration may be given to offering a retainer contract.  A retainer contract is issued for a period of time during which the services of the individual contractor are required intermittently. The individual contractor agreement on retainer basis will specify a “unit price” per day worked. For budgetary purposes, a monetary cap will be determined when the contract is awarded and issued. Please note that the retainer contract will not provide for a minimum, and payment will be made only after completion of work.

For more details about the ICA contractual modality, please follow this link: 
https://www.unops.org/english/Opportunities/job-opportunities/what-we-offer/Pages/Individual-Contractor-Agreements.aspx 

Type de contrat, le niveau du contrat, et la durée

Contrat: International ICA
Niveau du poste: IICA­4/ICS­12
Durée: À durée indéterminée sous réserve des exigences organisationnelles, de la disponibilité des fonds et/ou de performances satisfaisantes*

*Bien que la durée indiquée dans cet avis de vacance soit « indéterminée » suivant les besoins de l’entreprise, il peut être envisagé de proposer un contrat de mandat. Un contrat de mandat est délivré pour une période de temps pendant laquelle les services de l'entrepreneur individuel sont requis de façon intermittente. Le contrat de louage de services individuel précisera un « prix unitaire » par jour travaillé. Pour des raisons budgétaires, un plafond monétaire sera déterminé lors de l'attribution et de l'émission du contrat. Veuillez noter que le contrat de mandat ne prévoira pas de minimum et que le paiement ne sera effectué qu'après l'achèvement des travaux.

• Please note that UNOPS does not accept unsolicited resumes.
• Applications received after the closing date will not be considered. 
• Please note that only shortlisted candidates will be contacted and advance to the next stage of the selection process, which involves various assessments.*
• UNOPS embraces diversity and is committed to equal employment opportunity. Our workforce consists of many diverse nationalities, cultures, languages, races, gender identities, sexual orientations, and abilities. UNOPS seeks to sustain and strengthen this diversity to ensure equal opportunities as well as an inclusive working environment for its entire workforce. 
• Qualified women and candidates from groups which are underrepresented in the UNOPS workforce are encouraged to apply. These include in particular candidates from racialized and/or indigenous groups, members of minority gender identities and sexual orientations, and people with disabilities.
• We would like to ensure all candidates perform at their best during the assessment process.  If you are shortlisted and require additional assistance to complete any assessment, including reasonable accommodation, please inform our human resources team when you receive an invitation.

• For staff positions only, UNOPS reserves the right to appoint a candidate at a lower level than the advertised level of the post. 
• For retainer contracts, you must complete a few Mandatory Courses (they take around 4 hours to complete) in your own time, before providing services to UNOPS. For more information on a retainer contract here.
• All UNOPS personnel are responsible for performing their duties in accordance with the UN Charter and UNOPS Policies and Instructions, as well as other relevant accountability frameworks. In addition, all personnel must demonstrate an understanding of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) in a manner consistent with UN core values and the UN Common Agenda.
• It is the policy of UNOPS to conduct background checks on all potential personnel. Recruitment in UNOPS is contingent on the results of such checks.
• The selection and/or evaluation process may involve a combination of the following:

1. Occupational Personality Questionnaire (OPQ);
2. Written test;
3. Job simulation;
4. Case study assessment;
5. Competency Based Questions.